, 1887-12-29


little snow is seen and flowers may
bloom in the middle of winter. From
this arises the warm Chinook wind
that, passing the high wall OF the Cas-
cades, banishes the SHOWS of eastern
Washington and limits, to stay of
three or four weeks, a winter that
might otherwise be as long and as se-
we're rs that of Dakota.
Each Of the two climatic divisions
has subdivisions. Thus, in eastern
Washington, while the winters are
nowhere very long, they are in some
districts even shorter than in others,
and in western Washington the rains
are not everywhere equally long
These details, however, cannot be
given here; the more especially as,
upon the whole, tho differences are
not great.
The climate Of western Washington
so little resembles that of any other
part Of the United States that q more
particular account OF it seems neces-
sary. The summers are nearly with
out rain, the autumns and the springs
have frequent showers, the winters
are rainy. No season, as has been
said before, is severe. The summer
heat is not commonly above S5 de-
grees, that Of winter only for a few
days as low as 10 degrees above zero.
The ordinary winter cold, that is to
say, for few weeks Of January and
February, is between 30 and 45
degrees. That part of the year
between November and Christmas is
usually so mild as to be only pro-
longation of autumn.
AS to the rains, it must be under
stood that though it rains long here it
does not in the aggregate rain more
than in most parts of the temperate
zone. 1t may also be added that the
dryness OF the summers causes no
drought. The spring rains continue
at intervals until in June, and the
summer heat is not severe.
u LAND LAWS.
The following information concern
ing the public land laws for the dis
posal of government lands in Wash
ington territory may be useful to the
intending immigrant:
All lands that are for sale or other
disposal by the government under
general laws are known as public
lands, and are divided into land dis
tricts, in each of which is a land office
presided over by two officers. known
respectively, as the register and re-
ceiver.
There are five Of these districts in
this territory.
The register and receiver act as
agents for the government, and pat
ents will be issued for all lands sold
or otherwise disposed of by them, if
by the commissioner of the
General Land Office at Washington.
Agricultural lands are disposed Of
to actual settlers only under the
homestead, prs-emption and timber
culture laws.
Desert lands are such a. will not
produce crops without irragation by
artificial means,
Timber lands are thosesnot fit for
cultivation, being chiefly valuable for
the timber, 100 acres of which can be
purchased without residence and i'm
provement, for $3.50 per acre; also
lands valuable for stone can be pur-
chased under the same act of June 3,
1878.
Within the limits Of railroad grants
only the even-numbered sections are
disposed OF by the government, and
these are known as double-minimum
land, and when entered under the
pre-emption law the price is $3.50
per acre.
Outside the railroad limits the land
is known as minimum land, and is
sold at 81. 25 per acre.
Citizenship is required, or a declar-
alton to become citizen OF the Unit
ed States, before any public lands can
be taken in this territory.
Only one claim can be taken by the
same person under each of the public
land laws of the United States.
THE HOMESTEAD LAW.
Every citizen of the United States
who is over twenty-one years Of age,
or the head Of family, can take 160
acres of the public lands (agricultur-
aD by establishing residence there
on and cultivating the same in good
faith as home for five years from
the date Of settlement; or if, after six
months residence and cultivation,
such persons 30 desire, they may
commute their homestead claim
by paying the government price
therefor; or if a soldier or sailor
who, having served in the army
or navy OF the United States
during the recent rebellion, has been
honorably discharged, the time Of his
service will be deducted from the five
years. residence required. But in
such cases a residence Of one year on